The Gladiator : The Secret of Rome's Warrior Slaves

Baker & TaylorA fascinating account documents the history of the Roman games, which were the cultural and political life of Rome, by exploring the illustrious lives of the gladiators - courageous men who were condemned, adored by women, feared, and destroyed.

McMillan Palgrave

A dramatic, vivid picture of Roman life, Alan Baker's evocative history tells the stories of the extraordinary gladiators, trainers and emperors who participated in history's most violent game.

Condemned and yet feared by Emperors, slaughtered and yet adored by the masses and loved by women, the Gladiator's life was invariably short and violent. His existence was an abyss of bloody darkness illuminated only faintly by the prospect of honor, wealth, public attention and the amorous attentions of adoring women. With fear and danger as his constant companions, his enemy was as likely to be a starved tiger as a fellow battle-hardened human being. Yet men gave up their freedom to become gladiators, noblewomen gave up their positions to elope with them, and Emperors risked death to fight these slaves.

A work of history that reads like fiction, The Gladiator recreates the stories of Spartacus, Commodus, Caligula and others, bringing to life this most extraordinary Empire and the unique players in the gladiatorial arena.

Holtzbrinck02

A dramatic, vivid picture of Roman life, Alan Baker's evocative history tells the stories of the extraordinary gladiators, trainers and emperors who participated in history's most violent game.

Condemned and yet feared by Emperors, slaughtered and yet adored by the masses and loved by women, the Gladiator's life was invariably short and violent. His existence was an abyss of bloody darkness illuminated only faintly by the prospect of honor, wealth, public attention and the amorous attentions of adoring women. With fear and danger as his constant companions, his enemy was as likely to be a starved tiger as a fellow battle-hardened human being. Yet men gave up their freedom to become gladiators, noblewomen gave up their positions to elope with them, and Emperors risked death to fight these slaves.

A work of history that reads like fiction, The Gladiator recreates the stories of Spartacus, Commodus, Caligula and others, bringing to life this most extraordinary Empire and the unique players in the gladiatorial arena.

Baker & TaylorDescribes the history of Roman gladiator games, exploring the sport's political and social role, the life and training of a gladiator, and the games.

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The author states this is not meant to be an academic work and that is evident in the body of the work. It is an insightful read however. The chapter "A day at the games" is fascinating. The primary criticism is the author repeats certain concepts excessively.